[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 198 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING DR. ORVILLE CLARK, JR.

  Mr. McCONNELL, Mr. President, today it is my privilege to pay tribute 
to Dr. Orville Clark, Jr., who was laid to rest in Arlington National 
Cemetery. When Dr. Clark passed away earlier this year at the age of 
92, his family chose to honor his service in uniform by burying him at 
one of our Nation's most sacred sites.
  A lifelong resident of Pikeville, KY, Orville entered the U.S. Army 
in December of 1943 to fight against the forces of evil in World War 
II. He served as a combat medic in the European theater, and his 
children recounted that Orville suffered a severe injury in 1945 as he 
attempted to rescue other soldiers. For his courage and sacrifice on 
that French battlefield, he earned the Purple Heart, our Nation's 
oldest military award still given to servicemembers.
  After the war, Orville returned to Kentucky and he married Betty Jo 
the next year. He built an optometry practice and was a leader among 
his peers as the president of the Kentucky Optometric Association. 
Throughout their 72 years together, the couple raised their children, 
Alicia and Orville, and instilled in them life's important lessons.
  Later in his life, Orville would walk to a local fast food restaurant 
every day for a cup of coffee. Apparently he made such an impression on 
the staff there that, at his funeral in Pike County, the crew served as 
his pall bearers. The Clark family then traveled with his remains to 
Orville's final resting place in our Nation's Capital. On a windy day 
in Arlington, our Nation rendered military honors and expressed its 
gratitude to Orville for his service and sacrifice.
  The men and women of the ``greatest generation'' often chose to leave 
the safety of home to defend the freedom of our Nation and of the 
world. Like so many of his comrades, Orville patriotically stood 
against the enemies of the United States. In doing so, he displayed the 
highest values of our Commonwealth and our Nation. As Betty Jo, Alicia, 
and Orville grieve this loss, our thoughts and prayers are with them. I 
urge my Senate colleagues to join me in expressing our sincere 
condolences to the Clark family.

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